We human beings are naturally fond of happy endings. We have an innate sense of the way things ought to be, and that part of us is profoundly satisfied when things turn out that way.

The episode that we read today from the story of Joseph is a classic happy ending.

It's a beautiful scene. The nearly blameless hero of the story, Joseph, has been finally rewarded for his wisdom and faithfulness, exalted to a high position of authority and prestige. After years of unjust suffering, he is comfortably situated. After almost unspeakable enmity between him and his brothers, we see this marvelous and emotional reunion. People who had been cruel are forgiven. People who had been antagonistic to one another now embrace one another. And a father whose heart had been broken by tragedy — and whose fa…